54th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal 'Represents True Spirit of Montauk'

EAST HAMPTON, NY - The grand marshal of the 54th annual Montauk St. Patrick's Day Parade holds close the longtime values cherished by generations of residents, friends say.

Viking Fleet Paul Forsberg, a 65-year Montauk resident and business owner, will serve as grand marshal when the parade kicks off on March 20 this year.

He has shared his memoirs in his book “Gone Fishin’ with the Viking Fleet”, which was published in 2013.

According to Joey Bloecker of the Montauk Friends of Erin, which selects the grand marshal, "One thing about Captain Paul Forsberg and his family — with all the different things happening in Montauk, and they way people don't like the way things are changing — Captain Forsberg is keeping Montauk, Montauk."

The fishing industry, Bloecker said, is what Montauk was built on, with generations making their living from the water. "Captain Forsberg goes to Washington and fights for fishermen all the time," he said. "We feel we have a grand marshal who truly represents the spirit of Montauk this year."

Montauk Chamber announced the Parade as a Montauk event. Montauk Friends of Erin selects the Grand Marshal and you’ll need to contact Joey Bloecker Cell 631-988-5201

Laraine Creegan, Executive Director of the Montauk Chamber of Commerce, said the parade is a highly anticipated event each year in Montauk.

“The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is an important event for Montauk because it signals the start of spring for locals and visitors, as well as brings in thousands of people to the hamlet that patronize businesses — restaurants, shops, hotels and our soup sale.”

Schedule of events

At 10 a.m. on parade day, the Montauk Chamber will begin ladling out hot soup for sale in commemorative mugs. Montauk restaurants that donate soup are Montauk Yacht Club, Tillie’s of Gurney’s Inn, Duryea's Lobster Dock, Inlet Seafood, John’s Pancake House and Sole East, just a few who will participate this year.

The parade starts at 11:30 a.m. with family-friendly floats and fun including green face-painting, grabbing foam shamrocks and shillelaghs to wave on the parade, and collecting lucky beads and candy tossed from the floats of hometown businesses and fire trucks.

Long Island bagpipe bands will march in the parade, which starts on Edgemere Street, to South Edison St and enters Main Street at the east end of town.

WLNG will broadcast live from the parade and via a live stream; to listen, click here.

Leading up to the big day:

• March 12, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.: Montauk's Friends of Erin 11th Annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner at the Point Bar & Grill
• March 19, noon – 3 p.m. - Grand Marshal's Luncheon Montauk Yacht Club. Introduction and roast of Grand Marshal and presentation of his parade sash, top hat and shillelagh.
• March 19, 4- 8 p.m.: Friends of Erin Gala Cocktail Party at Gurney's Montauk. A buffet, open bar and live music and a Pot of Gold Raffle; the night is one of the main events to fundraise for the parade. For tickets and info, click here.